Trump and Xi Hold Call Amid U.S.-China Trade Stalemate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping spoke Thursday amid stalled U.S.-China tariff negotiations. The White House offered no immediate comment, while China confirmed the conversation via Xinhua. The call follows Trump’s remarks calling Xi “very tough” and difficult to negotiate with.
Trump, Xi Talk Amid Tariff Stalemate: Quick Looks
- Call Confirmed by China: Xinhua reports Trump and Xi spoke Thursday; the White House has yet to comment.
- Tariff Talks Frozen: Negotiations have stalled since a May 12 agreement to ease tariff rates temporarily.
- Trump’s Tone: One day earlier, Trump called Xi “extremely hard to make a deal with.”
- Ongoing Economic Tensions: The two nations remain locked in strategic competition over trade and tech.
- Diplomatic Messaging: Trump’s social media rhetoric contrasts with diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations.
Deep Look: Trump and Xi Speak Amid Stalled U.S.-China Tariff Talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — As trade tensions simmer between the world’s two largest economies, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call on Thursday, marking a significant, though largely symbolic, engagement between two leaders whose recent negotiations have failed to yield progress.
The conversation was confirmed by Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. The White House offered no immediate statement, underscoring the fragile nature of the discussions and the lack of substantial breakthroughs.
This latest communication comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are being tested on multiple fronts — from tariffs and trade policy to technology restrictions, geopolitical influence, and domestic political posturing.
Background: A Stalled Trade Framework
The two nations entered a temporary tariff truce on May 12, agreeing to reduce existing tariffs while negotiators sought a broader economic agreement. Yet, just weeks later, talks remain stalled, and the framework agreed upon in Geneva appears to have lost momentum.
At the heart of the gridlock are deeper disagreements over intellectual property, technology transfer rules, and market access. The United States wants greater structural reforms from Beijing, while China accuses Washington of using tariffs as leverage to slow its technological rise.
Neither side has announced new tariff increases — but neither has moved decisively to resolve the deadlock.
Trump’s Tone vs. Diplomacy
On Wednesday, just a day before the phone call, Trump shared a pointed message on his social media platform Truth Social, characterizing Xi as “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” Despite this, Trump reiterated that he has always liked the Chinese leader.
This messaging reflects a pattern in Trump’s foreign policy style — using social media to publicly pressure foreign counterparts, while his administration simultaneously pursues diplomatic solutions.
The remarks, while intended to show resolve, also risk hardening positions in Beijing. Chinese media and state officials have historically bristled at being the target of Trump’s online rhetoric, viewing it as undiplomatic and counterproductive.
Strategic Competition Deepens
While the tariffs dominate headlines, U.S.-China tensions span far beyond trade. In recent months, Trump has pushed for tighter restrictions on Chinese tech firms, including Huawei, ZTE, and others suspected of ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Additionally, Trump’s administration is moving forward with policies aimed at limiting visas for Chinese students in sensitive fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace. Chinese officials have condemned these moves as discriminatory and geopolitically motivated.
At the same time, the U.S. has encouraged allies to join in countering China’s influence in sectors such as rare earth minerals and 5G infrastructure.
Why This Call Matters
Even without immediate breakthroughs, the Trump-Xi phone call is significant for what it represents: a channel of communication remains open.
The call, lasting approximately 30–45 minutes according to unofficial sources, reportedly touched on trade issues, the global economic climate, and broader U.S.-China cooperation efforts. However, there was no indication of resumed formal negotiations or new concessions from either side.
With the U.S. election season intensifying, Trump has increasingly tied his foreign policy messaging to campaign rhetoric — criticizing previous administrations for being “weak” on China and vowing to “protect American jobs and industries.”
For China, whose economy is also under pressure from real estate turmoil, demographic shifts, and foreign divestment, maintaining a functional relationship with the U.S. is viewed as strategically essential, even if ideological differences persist.
What Comes Next
As both countries dig in on key economic priorities, it remains uncertain whether this call will pave the way for resumed formal talks.
Officials on both sides acknowledge the need for compromise, but domestic politics and mutual suspicion continue to delay a resolution.
Trump is expected to speak with U.S. business leaders next week to address concerns about supply chains, tariffs, and long-term competitiveness. Chinese officials, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing a new economic proposal that includes limited structural reforms and expanded market access in certain sectors — though it’s unclear if this will satisfy U.S. demands.
If no progress is made in the coming weeks, analysts warn the trade truce may collapse, leading to a new wave of tariffs and economic volatility for global markets.
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